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Winter 2007/08 | Vol 11 No 2

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Sheila Lacroix

At-risk youth

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
Hot off the press is Substance Use and Harm in the General Youth Population, found under Topics, Population, Youth. The second chapter deals with non-mainstream youth, recognizing that heavy substance use may relate to attempts to cope with “toxic environments” at the root of trauma or other psychological problems. In the final chapter, gaps in the quality and availability of age-appropriate services for mental health and addiction are acknowledged. Another document in the Youth section is Harm Reduction Policies and Programs for Youth. Harm reduction approaches promote a population-based approach, but acknowledge that some youth are engaging in risky behaviours that could lead to harm. Harm reduction strategies for non-mainstream youth are reviewed.

Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System
The mandate of this organization includes supporting young offenders and their families. This involves engaging in research to improve programs and services. One initiative is studying the effectiveness of multi-systemic therapy (MST), an intensive home-based intervention involving the whole family, for serious young offenders who would otherwise be placed in custody. There are three MST resources to consult: the original 2002 study, Seeking Effective Interventions for Serious Young Offenders; One Step Forward: Lessons Learned from a Randomized Study of Multisystemic Therapy in Canada and the final results of the three-year follow-up. Explore the web site further for other services and projects targeting at-risk children and youth such as children of incarcerated mothers and children exposed to family violence